Saturday was the beginning of what the York University Lions football program hopes becomes something special.

While they didn't get the desired result on the scoreboard, the imprint forged by head coach Dexter Janke, offensive coordinator Rick Walters and defensive coordinator Greg Knox was certainly felt.

The Lions struggled to move the ball early offensively, with a pair of two-and-outs to start the game, but the defence held strong, forcing the Gee-Gees to settle for two field goals to take a 6-0 lead. A rouge on an Ottawa punt made it 7-0 after one.

The Lions began to move the ball more efficiently in the second quarter. They reached the Ottawa 22 yard line late in the second, and a missed field goal by Nathan Walker got York on the board, down 7-1. There was a lull in the scoring until late in the half when the Lions engineered a hard-nosed, clock-eating drive, and were near millimetres from taking the lead into halftime, but a Matt Linn pass went off the fingertips of his intended receiver, forcing York to take a 12-yard field goal and trail 7-4 at the break.

While York's defence remained stout through the majority of the second half, the offence was unable to build off the momentum gained in the first half. Ottawa scored on its first drive of the second the third field goal of the day from Zach Copeland, to take a 10-4 lead. As the half progressed, the visitors began chewing yards on the ground, wearing down York's defensive front. The author of those yards, Charles Asselin, scored one of his two touchdowns late in the third to put Ottawa up 17-4. 

Copeland added his fourth field goal of the day in the final frame, and Asselin punctuated the win with a major in the final minute, giving his side a 27-4 victory.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Lions look to build off the positives of Saturday's opener next week when they battle the Queen's Gaels in Kingston. Kickoff is 3:00 pm from Richardson Stadium. 

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

Here's what head coach Dexter Janke following his OUA head coaching debut: